The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-02-18
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
The Proceedings Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives.


his trip to Siberia to distribute gifts to tn
natives who befriended the crew Of the
Jeanette, was presented.
n The bill passed by the house to appropris T..
$4,000 for special distribution OF seed to
the drought-stricken counties Of Texas, was
called up and advocated by Senator Coke
The bill was finally passed by vote OF 81 to
16 Mr. Miller from the commerce commit,
tee reported bill for the construction Of
bridge across the East river at New York
Consideration Of the sundry civil appro-
priation bill was resumed. On motion Of
Senator Hoar, an amendment was mad
providing that the secretary of state, libra
rian of congress and secretary Of the Smith
sonian institution shall act as a commissions
on historical manuscripts Of the government
The bill was then reported from the conf
mittee of the whole, and after few unim-
portant amendments were agreed to was
passed.
Norwood, of Georgia; from the committee
on naval affairs, reported joint resolution
authorizing the secretary of the navy to re-
advertise for bids for the construction of
cruiser No. l, and to contract for its con-
struction for any sum which, together with
the cost of equipment, including the arna-
ment shall not exceed 81, 100000. Referred.
McAdoo, of New Jersey, introduced u
bill appropriating S2O,OO0,O 900 for the manu-
facture of first class modern guns for the
navy and sea coast defenses. Referee
WASHINGTON, Feb. g.
Senator Evarts introduced bill for the
purchase of Ericcson's Destroyer and ten
large steel vessels Of the same type. 1t APP
propriates Sjl2,O00 and $2.O00,O0O for these
purposes resbectively.
The Becl attorney bill was Iaxen up
Mr. Evarts Opposed the bill taking ground
that the n. opposed legislation was entirely
upcaiied Tor, and it was also unprecedented.
The only reason that he heard given for it
was that given by the senator from
Arkansas, Mr.. Berry, that there was in the
public mind in regard to this matter "a
restless dissatisfaction and vague fear"
The fear was entirely illusory. No SEN
sible man in or out Of congress feared that
there was a tendency to corruption in
the relations Of attorney and client as be-
tween members of congress and thes, rail-
road corporations.
At the conclusion of Senator Evarts'
speech the s-nate went into secret session.
In the house the bill authorizing tn, APP
pointment of clerks to senators and repre-
sentatives, not chairmen of committees, was
tabled. al to los.
The house amended the pleuro- pneumonia
bill, but took no final action.
WASHINGTON, Feb. L.
The senate bill to credit land pay to the
several states and territories and district
eff Columbia all moneys collected under the
district tax levied by the act of Aug. Is,
1851, was taken up.
S,nator Sherman advocated and eX-
planned the bill. He said that it had Teen
several times recommended by the treasury
department, partly as an act of justice
and partly to relieve the department OF
legal complications. 1t referred to tax
of S30,OUO,O0O imposed during the war upon
alltEe states, north and south. TO those
not hern states which paid it promptly
discount of Is per cent had been allowed.
Eut some few of those states did not pay
promptly, and since the war some of
It'll had been coll cted from some Oh
the southern states. Charges for the quota
dub by the southern states stood against
them on the books of the treasury. Amounts
due to them from the tr, asury could not be
paid while these stood there. Under tn 81
circumstances three or four secretaries of
the treasury had recommended that out OF
the overhowing treasury there be paid back
to the states the amounts received from
them, and that the other stats be credited
with tn ir share of the tax. The bill was
nanifestly just; it had been unlawfully
recommended by the treasury departnl mt,
the commit on finance. The aggr gat.
of the amount to be refunded would be
about $l4,OJO, 600 or $4,000, 900.
ha
casting the only vote in the negative.
The senate resumed consideration of the
railroad attorn v bill. A vote was taken
on, MIR. Hoar's amendment or substitute
for the original bill, making it unlawful
for member of congress to act as attorney
in any cas-, in opposition to the Unit 4
States. or to act as attorney for any subsi-
died railroad company, when measures
affecting the interests OF such company are
pt nding against congress, during the nl.lll-
ber's term of office The amendment was
agreed to rs to Il.
After good deal OF talk the bill, as
amended, was passed 80 to IA, Senators AL
drich, Blair Dawes, Frye, Hale, Hawley,
Hoar and Morrill, being recorded in favor.
The attorneys bill as it passed the senat,
reads as follows: That it shall be unlawful
for any member Of either house of congress
to accept employment as attorney at-law
or payment tor services of any kind in OF
position to the United States, in any case
to which the United States may be party
or in which its interests may be con-
cerned, or from any railroad company if
such member shall have reasonable excuse
to believe that measures specially affecting
the interests of such company are pending
before congress or are about to be so pend
ing during his term of Office Any person
who violates the provisions Of this act shall
be guilty of misdemeanor and may be
punished by imprisonment not exceeding
one year or by fine not exceeding $500 or
by both in the discretion of the court
WASHINGTON, Feb s
Senator Hawley moved and the
senate proceeded to consider the twin bill,
which provides for the encouragement of
steel manufacture for modern warfare and
other purposes, and providing heavy ord
nance adopted to modern naval warfare
This bill was also passed without debate
The first of these bills provides for the es,
tablishment of a gun foundry at West
Troy, n ", for finishing and assembling
guns adapted to modern warfare, and max
ing gun carriages and ordnance equipment,
and authorizes the secretary of war to
make contracts with steel manufacturers
for materials adapted to :nodern warfar,.
1t appropriates SS,OOO,OOO. The second bill
provides for a naval gun foundry at Wash
ington for similar purposes for naval war
fare and for the purchase of steel ordnance,